Fool's Spring

The past week was filled with sunshine and warm weather.  Suddenly, you had the itch to pack away the woolen sweaters and start shopping for sandals. You start pondering the best spot to plant your herb garden and planning picnics. Someone here told Leah this is called "Fool's Spring." It is that week that teases you into thinking the cold, stark, dark days of winter are over. We decided to play the fool and headed to our new favorite spot, Martha's Park in Gastonia. It is a wonderful castle-like play structure (similar to Kid's World in Santa Barbara) that has all sorts of tunnels, bridges, slides and cubbies to have your own adventure.  

Ben's voice could be heard throughout the park exclaiming from one high point or another, "Mommy, Daddy, check this out, this is so cool!" Clara took her first solo ride in a big kid swing and giggling she shouted, "Higher! Higher!" with each push from mom. Mark showed the kids how to rock the xylophones, but Ben was pretty sure his solo sounded better. We soaked in the sunshine, past our white and pasty skin into our blood and bones- rejuvenated inside out (the kids felt very rejuvenated after a surprise trip to McDonald's for hot fudge sundaes). 

The temperatures have dropped again, gray and rainy days are on the horizon, but that spring tease gave us the strength to push through the final days. Anticipation swells to watch our world explode into green and birdsong in the splashy way North Carolina does so well. Almost there.

Sweet Hearts

We are almost recovered from all our winter sickness. If you are feeling a bit "blucky" (word creation by Mark Watson)— a few days celebrating the sweeties in your life is a sure way to get your body and heart on the road to wellness. 

We had the Cannon Family over for chocolate fondue fun.  

Hush Puppy, a popular member of Ben's preschool class, 

came to stay with us a for a few days.  

Ben keeps finding excuses for why Hush Puppy needs to stay a little longer.

Our little love triangle:  Clara, William and Ben.  

Ben and William are best buds.  

William is smitten with Clara. Clara loves it. Ben does not like sharing William.

Ben is learning a lesson that will most likely repeat itself time and time again.

Pop Pop sent us a Valentine surprise: Just Dance 2 for our Wii.  

Way too much fun—and a great workout!  

Leah does whatever it takes to get that crown.

Our favorite valentine memory:  One afternoon while Clara was napping, Ben took the initiative to make his baby sister a valentine.  Ben was giddy with excitement as he crafted his creation— shaking extra glitter, making sure it was orange, that it had "lots of hearts" and he signed his name all by himself. When he gave it to Clara he said, "I just love you so much."

This is what trouble looks like.

Sending love from all of us, with wishes for a week filled 

with love, laughter, Yoda and chocolate!

Payback

Coming back from our indulgent adventure in San Francisco we were given payback, karma, retribution, whatever you want to call it in the form of winter sickness.  Clara came down with a respiratory illness that made her miserable for days on end.  She had a wicked, burning cough that just shook her little body and left her whimpering in the middle of the night, "Mommy, more medicine."  Our little chow hound refused to eat and her fever would only stay at bay with round the clock Motrin/Tylenol monitoring.  


Leah's immune system took a big hit during her radioactive escapades and soon she was sick (again...it is constant during the winter months, especially with two cuddly bundles of germs) and that turned into a major sinus infection. Next up was Ben, more sleepless nights and another round of doctor visits. Mark's strong Scottish genes kept him healthy, but sleep deprived.  


A perk of small town Southern life is our neighborhood pharmacy, Bowman's Drugs.  It comes complete with an old school soda fountain, pharmacists that know our kids by name and always treat them to a free slushy to slurp at the counter while we wait for prescriptions.   There have been spurts of sunshine that we have welcomed with open windows, outside playtime and standing in the golden light bathing our hardwood floors.  


We are slowly getting back into the groove of things, Clara is eating, Ben is sleeping, Leah is disinfecting and Mark is at the ready with another box of kleenex, a bowl of peppermint ice cream or  a middle of the night "re-booting" of the little people.  Clara brought Leah a tissue this morning and declared, "We are snot buddies!"  The calendar on the fridge, marked with meetings, appointments and celebrations, is a welcome reminder that each day is one day closer to Spring and each day is one more that we have had together as a (snotty) family.  

Clara's Crew: Baby Mara, Button and Jake.